United came from behind to claim a 2-1 success in their SPL clash in the Highlands, with Russell cancelling out an Iain Vigurs opener before Stuart Armstrong headed the winner. The win took United up to seventh in the table but just five points behind leaders Celtic.

Russell said: “The talk at the start of the season was that we would be up there but our results haven’t been good enough.

“The league’s tight but a few back-to-back results will get us back up the table, that’s what we are aiming to do.”

Russell was pleased to get back on the scoresheet and help the team earn a first win in three. He added: “I just wanted to keep it [the effort] on target. The goalkeeper came out so I thought, if I can keep it low, I might have a chance. I haven’t scored in a wee while but, more importantly, we got the result. Hopefully, this is the start of a wee run for me and a run for the team.”

Russell was full of praise for Armstrong, adding: “I thought he was brilliant, for the work he did off the ball as well as on it. He was different class and he finished off a great display by getting the winner. He’s a great player and a great lad as well.” The defeat dropped Ross County to tenth place, ahead of their meeting with fellow strugglers St Mirren tomorrow.

Vigurs said: “Personally, it was good to get a goal but, unfortunately, we lost. We need to be more compact as a team after we go in front but one long ball and Russell has gambled and it’s paid off. Then they got their second goal and we never managed to get back into it. United are a good side but we will have to learn from these games. We will see what we’ve done wrong and won’t let it happen again. The St Mirren match is a big game. I think if we play like we did in the first half and in long spells against United, we will win it.

“It will give us a bit of breathing space if we do win because we have a few hard games over the Christmas period, so three points is vital.”